Hoist mechanism



- Jan. 28, 1930. F. T. KERN 1,744,970

HOI ST MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. QED 77 KERJV;

A TTORN Y3.

Jan. 28, 1930. F. "r. KERN HOIS'I MECHANISM Fil e d Jan. 2, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. FRED 7.7115211 MMM ' A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 28, 1930. KERN 1,744,970

I 4 HOISI MECHANISM I File Jan. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. E9528 TJEIERM I WLLQFM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan 28 1930 rann T. KERN, or MILwAUKEawIscoNsIN HOIST MECHANISM Application filed January 2, 1926. Serial No. 78,730.

This invention relates to improvements in hoisting mechanism of the type used for dragline scrapers, and more particularly to the means for connecting the inhaul and retrieve drums to the power or drive-shaft.

Dragline scrapers are used for various purposes, such as the moving of material from one place to another and the'digging 0 outof ditches for pipe lines, etc., and comprise, in general, inhaul and retrieve drums, means such as clutches for connecting either of these drums to a power or drive shaft, a sheave fixed in some suitable manner at a point removed from the drums, a cable trained about the sheave and having its ends fixed to the'drums, and a suitable bucket or scraper fixed to the cable and actuated thereby. In operating these dragline scrapers, the bucket sometimes encounters an obstacle necessitating a change of speed and the application of more power to the driving drum to pull the bucket through. In all prior hoist mechanism of this type practically adapted and used with drag line scrapers, the control unit and the actuating members or levers of Fig. 5.

therefor have been more or less complicated,

and it has required several separate and distinct operations in changing over from one speed to the other and back again, such as is done, as explained above, in pulling the bucket through or past an obstacle. These hoist mechanisms, furthermore, have been more or less complicated and the control parts have added considerable to the size and j weight of the entire mechanism..

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide improved hoisting mechanism of the character referred to wherein the inhaul and retrieve drums may each be connected to the drive shaft for operationthereby at high and low speeds, the

arrangement being such that for normal 010- V eration the bucket can; be operated at high speed but. instantly connected to the:drive shaft for operation at low speed when more power is required'to passthrough or remove an obstacle. t

Another object is to provide improved hoisting mechanism of the character referred to which has ad antages vover th se constructed heretofore as regards compactness, simplicity of construction, weight, ease and flexibility of operation, and cost of manufacture.

, Other. objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. i I

For the purpose of illustrating the invention an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings,- in which: 1

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View, showin the manner in which the improved hoisting mechanism and the bucket and tackle therefor are set up;

ig. 2 is an end elevation, looking toward the right in Fig. 3, some of the parts being removed; M I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved mechanlsm;

Fig.4 is a diagrammatic view of the auxiliarybraking mechanism for the drums;

Fig. 5 is a plan vi ew of the mechanism similar to Fig. 3, the various parts being spread out to more clearly show their relation to each other; and v Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6-6 Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, the retrieve drum 1 is fixed on a shaft 2 having its respective ends journaled in bearings 3 and 4 secured to the supporting frame for the mechanism, the frame being designated generally by reference numeral 5. A gear 6 is fixed to shaft 2 and arranged in constant mesh with a similar and smaller gear 7 loosely mounted on a countershaft 8 having its respective ends journaled'in bearings 9 secured to frame 5. A gearlO is also loosely arranged upon shaft 8 and fixed to gear 7 for rotation therewith, gear 10 having a greater 0 pitch diameter than gear 7. Another similar gear 1 1 is arranged in constant mesh with gear 10 and :is. loosely mounted on a second countershaft 12 and is provided with a drum 13 fixed for rotation therewithand forming part of a clutch designated generallyv by reference numeral 14, the clutch acting to connect gear 11 to, shaft 12 for rotation therewith. The clutch 14 which is of the friction band type includes a friction band 18 mounted to o ate w th the c u er haft 1.2

and encircling the drum 13. The band 18 may be tightened to engage the drum under the control of the usual sliding collar 20 splined on shaft 12 and provided with an annular recess in which a ring 21 is loosely fitted, the ring being provided with diametrically arranged lugs 22 which are engaged by the bifurcated ends of the arms of the actuating member 23 pivotally mounted at 24 and connected by means of a link 25 to a lever 26 loosely mounted on a shaft 27, link 25 being connected to lever 26 at a point above shaft 27. The collar 20 is connected to the other arm of bell crank 17 by links 28, the parts being arranged so that upon movement of lever 26 to the position thereof shown in F ig. 5, collar 20 will he slid along shaft 12 and against part 15 of the clutch whereby links 28 are straightened out approximately in a vertical plane to cause tilting movement of bell crank 17 to tighten up the band 18 whereby drum 13 is connected 'to part 15 for rotation therewith and gear 11 thus connected to shaft 12, the respective ends of links 28 being connected to collar 20 and the said arm of bell crank 17 by suitable universal connections.

A gear 29 is loosely mounted on shaft 12 at one end thereof and arranged in constant mesh with a similar gear 30 fixed to the power or drive shaft 31 connected by means of a suitable coupling 32 to an electric motor 33, gear 29 being connected to shaft 12 for rotation therewith by means of a clutch of the same construction as clutch 14 and which is applied and released by means of a member 35 similar to member 23 and pivotally mounted at 36 to frame 5, member 35 being connected to a manually-operable lever 37, loosely mounted on shaft 27, through a rod 38 connected at 39 to one end of member 35 and at 40 to one arm of a bell crank 41 pivotally mounted at 42, and a link 43 connected at 44 to the other arm of bell crank 41 and to lever 37 at a point above shaft '27, the parts being so arranged that upon movement of lever 37 to the position thereof shown in Fig. 5 rod 38 will be pulled to the right to effect movement of collar 20 along shaft 12 away from member 15 of clutch 34 to pull links 28 from their vertical position to release band 18. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5, therefore, gear '29 is disconnected from countershaft 12. The ratio of the respective pitch diameters of gears 29 and 30 is comparatively great, so that when lever 37 is pulled toward the operator to apply clutch 34, the retrieve drum 1 will be connected to drive shaft 31 for operation thereby at the low speed through the gears 30, 29, 11, 10, 7 and 6.

A gear 45 is loosely mounted on countershaft 12 and arranged in constant mesh with a similar gear 46 fixed to drive shaft 31, gear 45 being connected to shaft 12 for rotation therewith by means of a clutch 47 similar to clutches 14 and 34 and which is actuated by means of a member 48 similar to members 23 and 35, member 48 being connected at 49 to bell crank 41 by means of the rod 50, the latter being connected at 51 to member 48 so that upon movement of the control lever 37 to the position thereof shown in Fig. 5, clutch 47 is applied to connect retrieve drum 1 to the drive shaft for operation thereby through the gears 46, 45, 11, 10, 7 and 6, the ratio of the respective pitch diameters of gears 45 and 46 being substantially less than the ratio of the respective pitch diameters of gears 29 and 30. From the foregoing it will be seen that upon movement of the control levers 26 and 37 to their respective positions, as shown in Fig. 5, clutch 34 will be released and clutches 14 and 47 applied so that drum 1 will be connected to the drive shaft for operation thereby at the high speed, and that if more power should be required, such as when the bucket strikes an. obstacle, it is simply necessary for the operator to pull control lever 37 toward himself to cause rotation of hell crank 41 in a clockwise direction whereby clutch '47 is released and clutch 34 applied to connect the retrieve drum 1 to the drive shaft for operation thereby at low speed through the low speed gears 29 and 30, the high speed gears 45 and 46 then being ineffective since gear 45 will then be free to rotate with respect to countershaft 12. \Vhen the obstacle is passed, control lever 37 is then returned to its position as shown in Fig. 5 to again release clutch 34 and apply clutch 47 to continue the operation of drum 1 at the high speed, so that no time is lost in operating the drum at times when no more power is required than that necessary for normal operation.

In the neutral or vertical position of control lever 37, each of the clutches 34 and 47 will be released so that countershaft 12 and the driving drum connected thereto through one of the clutches 14 or 60, as the case may be. will be disconnected from drive shaft 31.

The inhaul drum 52 is fixed on a shaft 53 having its ends journaled in bearings 54 and '55 secured to frame 5 of the mechanism, a

gear 56 being fixed to shaft 53 and arranged in constant mesh with a similar gear 57 loose on countershaft 8, gear 57 being fixed to another gear 58 also loose on shaft 8 and in constant mesh with a similar gear 59 loosely mounted on the second countershaft 12 and connected to the latter by means of a clutch 60 of the same construction as clutches 14, 34 and 47.

Clutch 60 is actuated by means of a member 61 similar to members 23, 35 and 48 and which is pivotally mounted at 62 and connected by means of a link 63 to a manuallyoperable lever 64 loosely mounted on shaft 27, link 63 being connected to this lever at a point above shaft 27 so that upon movement of the lever toward the operator member 61 will be rotated in a clockwise direction to apply clutch to connect gear 59 to countershaft 12 for rotation therewith. In Fig. 5, levers 26 and 64 are shown in their respective positions to connect the retrieve drum 1 to countershaft 12 and to disconnect the inhaul drum 52 from the latter, the control lever 37 being in position to release clutch 34 and apply clutch 47 so thatcountershaft 12 is connected to drive shaft 31 for operation thereby at the high speed. In Figs. 1 to 4, the control levers 26, 37 and 64 are in their respective neutral or vertical positions, in which positions of these levers the clutches 14, 34, 47 and 60 are released.

As shown in Fig l. the bucket or scraper 65 is secured to a cable 66 trained about a sheave 67 fixed in some suitable manner at a point removed from the hoisting mechanism, the respective ends of the cable being secured to the inhaul and retrieve drums insuch manner that upon operation of the inhaul drum, the lower strand of the cable is wound upon the latter and the bucket pulled forward, the retrieve drum at this time runningidle. In returning the bucket to its initial position, the inhaul drum 51 is disconnected from the drive shaft. and permitted to run idle, while the retrieve drum is operated to wind up the upper strand of the cable. j r

The operation of the improved hoisting mechanism is as follows: Assuming that bucket65 is in position to be drawn forward, lever 26 1S moved to its neutral or vertical pasition to release clutch l4, and lever 64 is pulled toward the operator to apply clutch 60, thereby connecting inhaul drum 52 to counter-shaft 12 through gears 56, 57, 58 and 59. The control lever 37 is then moved away from the operator from its vertical or neutral position to the position shown in Fig. 5 to apply clutch 47 and connect countershaft 12 to drive shaft 31 for operation thereby at the high speed through gears 45 and 46, motor 33 having been previously started. The bucket 65 is then carried forward, and in the event the latter should strike an obstacle requirin g the application of more power to the inhaul drum 52 in order to pull the bucket past or through the obstacle, control lever 37 is pulled toward the operator by a quick movement to effect simultaneous actuation of clutches 34 and 47 in such wise that the latter is released while clutch 34 is applied to connect counter-shaft 12 to drive shaft'31 for operation by the latter at the ,low speed through gears 29 and 30. When the obstacle has been passed, control lever 37 is returned to its former position, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby forward movement of the bucket is continued at thehigh speed through gears 45 and 46. In returning bucket 65 to its initial position, levers 26 and 64 are moved to their respective positions,jas shownin Fig.

5, to release clutch 60 and apply clutch 14 to connect the retrieve drum 1 to countershaft 12 and to disconnect the inhaul drum 52 from the latter. The control lever 37 is then moved to either side of its vertical or neutral position to connect countershaft 12 to drive shaft 31 for operation by the latter at the high or low speed, as desired. a p 1 From the foregoing it will be seen that an improved hoisting mechanism of the character described has been provided wherein either of the drums may be connectedto the drive shaft for operation thereby at the high or low speed upon actuation of the single control lever 37, the change in speed of either of t-he'drums being effected instantly and withoutstopping or losing any of the moment of inertia of the drivingidrum, or withoutin any way necessitatingactuation of the other control means such as the levers 26. and 64, the latterbeing used onlyfor the purpose of connecting either one drum or the other to rountershaft12. v

In order to keep cable66 taut, it is desirable to place some had upon the idle drum; to prevent the same from racing. For this purpose a brake band 68 is arranged about one end of drum 1, one'end of the bandbeing secured to a member. 69 which may be part of frame 5, and the other end of the; band being secured to an arm 7 O fixed to a shaft 71 journaled in any suitablemanner in frame 5, a similar arm 72 being also fixed to shaft 71 and connected by means of a rod ;73

to a pedal 74 loosely mounted on shaft *1 A similarbrake band 75 is arranged about one end of drum 52 and fixed in some suitable manner to a member 76 which may also be part of frame 5, the other end of band 75 be ing secured to the end of an arm 77 fixed to a shaft 78 journaled in brackets 79 which may be secured to member 76, a similar arm 80 being also fixed to shaft 78 and connected by means of a rod 81 to a second pedal 82 also loosely mounted on shaft 27. By placing his foot on pedals 7 4 01 82 therefore, the operator may place a load upon either of the drums 1 and 52. I/Vhile in hoisting mechanism of this type constructed heretofore, it has always been necessary in the practical operation thereof to apply a load tothe idle drum by some such braking mechanism just described, in the improved hoisting mechanism described above it has been foundthat by use of the two countershafts 8 and 12 andthe various gears arranged thereon, as well as by use of the other gears on the drum and driving shafts, that when either of the drums W7 is being driven the rotation togetherof the gears associated withthe other drum ordi-- narily provides sufiicient load upon the latter to prevent racing of the same without neces-' sitating application of the brake bands 68for 75, as the case may be. Use of the two countershafts 8 and 12 and the characteristic armmgom'ent of the latter and the gears and clutches associated therewith is, therefore, important in the present invention for the reason that this load placed upon the idle drum renders the application of an additional load "by some auxiliary means such as the clutch bands 68 and unnecessary for most operations, thus making the machine much easier to operate.

The various parts of clutch 34, corresponding to the same parts of clutch 14 have been designated by primed numbers the same as the numbers given to the respective parts of clotch 14, while the various parts of clutch 60,eorresponding to thesa-me parts ofclutch 14 have been given double primed numbers correspond-ing "to the same numbers given to the respective parts of clutch 14. The details ofconst-Tnction and the manner of operation of the clutches form no part of the present invention and have only been shown and described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to understand the manner of usng clutches of this or other suitable types in hoisting mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The improved hoisting mechanism is particularly adapted for operating a dragline 'scmper, but of "course mechanism made in accordance with the present invention may he used in 'other connections and for other purposes as well.

While the drawings and description thereof have been directed to a practical embodiment of the invention for illustrative purposes, it "is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A hoisting mechanism for use with drag line scrapers and comprising a retrieve drum, an inhaul drum, means for supporting the drums for independent rotation, a countershaft,se'parate sets of gearing for driving the "drums from the counter-shaft, each set of gearing having a gear element loosely mounted on "the counter-shaft and a clutch mounted on the-counter-shaft for constraining the gear element to rotate with thecounter-shaft when desired, a motor driven shaft, two sets of speed reduction gearing between the motor driven shaft and the counter-shaft, each set of speed reduction gearing including a driven gear element loosely mounted on the countershaft and a friction clutch mounted on the counter-shaft for constraining the countershaft to rotate with the driven gear element when desired, operating mechanisms for said friction crutches, and a single control having connections with said operating mechanisms for simultaneously engaging either one of said friction clutches and disengaging the other.

2. A hoisting mechanism comprising a retrieve drum, an inhaul drum, a counter-shaft, a set of gears for driving the retrieve drum from the counter-shaft and including a friction clutch cooperable with the counter-shaft, a second set of gearing for driving the inhaul drum from the counter-shaft and including a friction clutch cooperable with the countershaft, controlling means for said clutches, a drive shaft, sets of gearing for driving the counter-shaft from the drive shaft atdifferent speed and power ratios and including friction clutchescoacting with the counter-shaft and a single lever operated control external of the counter-shaft and operatively connected with said last named clutches and adapted to be controlled to simultaneously engage one of said last named clutches and disengage the other of said last named clutches and vice versa.

3. A hoisting mechanism of the character described comprising a retrieve drum, an inha'ul drum, a counter-shaft, drum selection gearing between the counter-shaft and the drums for selectivefy driving either drum from the counter-shaft, clutches mounted on and directly connected with the counter-shaft and cooperable with the drum selection gearing for permitting selective actuation of either drum, a motor driven drive shaft, change speed gear mechanism for driving said counter-shaft from said drive shaft at different speed and power ratios, and clutches mounted on the counter-shaft and directly connected therewith and cooperable with the change gear speed mechanism for permitting actuation oi the counter-shaft from the drive shaft at diii'erent speed and power ratios and a single control for said last mentioned clutches.

4. A hoisting mechanism comprising a retrieve drum. an inhaul drum, a counter-shaft, drum selection gearing between the countershaft and the drums for selectively driving! either drum from the counter-shaft, clutches intermediate the drum selection gearing and the counter-shaft. a drive shaft, :1 motor for operating said drive shaft, change speed gear mechanism for driving said counter-shaft from said drive shaft at different speed and power ratios, and clutches intermediate the change speed gear mechanism and the counter-shaft whereby when the motor is operating and the hoist mechanism is idling, with the clutches disengaged, the counter-shaft and drum selection gearing are all stationary.

5. A hoisting mechanism comprising a retrieve drum, an inhaul drum, a counter-shaft, drum selection gearing between the countershaft and the drums for selectively driving either drum from the counter-shaft. clutches intermediate the drum selection gearing and the counter-shaft, a drive shaft, a motor for operating said drive shaft, change speed gear mechanism for driving said counter-shaft from said drive shaft at different speed and power ratios, and clutches intermediate the change speed gear mechanism and the countor-shaft whereby when the motor is operating and the hoist mechanism is idling, with the clutches disengaged, the-counter-shatt and drum selection gearing are all stationary, separate control levers for the clutches assoe ciated with the drum selection gearing and a single control lever connected with the clutches of the change speed gear mechanism for simultaneously engaging either one of the change speed gear clutches and disengaging the other change speed gear clutch.

A hoisting mechanism comprising a retrieve drum, an inhaul drum, a motor driven drive shaft, a counter-shaft, change speed gear mechanism between the drive shaft and the counter-shaft including two pairs of intermeshing gears, each pair of intermeshing gears comprising a drive gear fixed to the drive shaft and a driven gear loosely mounted on the counter-shaft, clutches mounted on the countereshat't and cooperable with the driven gears for clutching either of the same to the counter-shaft, a single control lever for engaging either one of said clutches and simultaneously disengaging the other, a set of gearing between the counter-shaft and the inhaul drum, a set of gearing between the countershaft and the retrieve drum, each set of gearing including a drive gear wheel loosely mounted on the counter-shaft, clutches mounted on the counter-shaft and cooperable with the driving gear wheels for selectively clutching the same to the counter-shaft,

a gear wheel fixed to each drum, a pair of intermediate gear wheels for each drum, the members of each pair of intermediate gear wheels being connected to rotate together, one member of each pair of intermediate gear wheels meshingwith the gear wheel of its while the operator is free to manipulate said drive shaft at different speed and power ratios, and clutches mounted directly on the countershat't and operatively associated with the change speed gear mechanism for controlling the action thereof. i

In witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

FRED T. KERN.

drum and the other member of said pair of intermediate gear wheels meshing with its driving gear wheel, and a second countershaft on which both pairs of intermediate gear wheels are mounted for free rotation.

7. A hoisting mechanism comprising a retrieve drum, an inhaul drum, means for selectively driving either drum at different speed and power ratios, including clutch controlled change speed gearing and clutch controlled drum selection gearing, a single lever connected with the clutches of the change speed gearing to simultaneously disengage either clutch while engaging the other, a pair of control levers adjacent said first mentioned lever for controlling the clutches of the drum selection gearing, a brake associated with each drum, and operating mechanism for the brakes including foot pedalsdisposed' adjacent to the levers and also adjacent to each other, whereby they may be simultaneously or independently operated by one foot and 

